PRIORITY UP IN SMOKE

Maybe the next police commissioner will have some real leaderships skills.
Sure is easier to arrest a peaceful marijuana protester on Boston Common
than to go into Dorchester and investigate real crime ("Bloody night on
Boston streets" and "Up in smoke: Potheads unite," Sept. 21).

Is there any wonder why thousands protest over marijuana laws? Government
priorities are skewed against marijuana. Prior to Sept. 11, only a fraction
of FBI agents were used to track terrorism suspects.

We have marijuana legislation pending right now on Beacon Hill (within sight
of Saturday's protest) that the people voted overwhelmingly for in
nonbinding referendums. Why hasn't that legislation been made into law?